University of Dubuque Honors Alumni/ae
Oct 14, 2008 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
On Saturday, October 18, the University of Dubuque will honor five outstanding alumni/ae -
Tony Lehmann (MBA'87), Kent Hatteberg (C'77), Pauline (Tobiason) Antons (C'48), William "Bill" Svrluga (C'66), and Saleem Ghubril (M.Div.'91) - as a part of the 2008 Homecoming Celebration. Awards will be presented during the Alumni/ae Dinner at the Midway Hotel.
2008 Volunteer Recognition Award
Awarded to University of Dubuque alumnus /alumna for outstanding contributions to the University in a volunteer capacity.
Tony Lehmann completed the MBA program at the University of Dubuque in 1987. Since graduation he has offered his time and energy to make sure our campus community continues to thrive. Tony has served on the University of Dubuque Alumni Board for six years and served as Alumni Board President for two years. During that time Tony helped develop the Alumni Board to serve as an important resource tool for the University of Dubuque and its alumni. Tony currently serves on the University of Dubuque Development Committee and has been an active member of our local UDAA Dubuque Area Alumni Chapter. Tony says that his involvement with UD has offered him the opportunity to give back and "pay it forward" to future alumni. As a result, he has grown personally, spiritually and professionally.
His dedication to education does not only take place on campus, Tony also has serves on the Truancy committee for the Dubuque Community School District and served on advisory boards for Clarke College and for Area Residential Care. Music and drama are also important to Tony, who has been a part of the music ministry at St. Anthony Parish in Dubuque, Iowa and has participated in many plays at the Grand Opera House. One of Tony's more memorable roles was playing the Tin Man in the Grand's production of The Wizard of Oz!
A great life experience for him was the chance to be a host brother to foreign exchange students from six different countries. This has given him a broader perspective of the world, its people and their needs. Tony most values his faith and family. His family includes his wife Cathleen, and four children, Sarah, Michael, John and Anne. He is grateful for their love and support. Tony thanks God for the gifts of faith and love he has been given.
2008 Professional Achievement Award
Awarded to a graduate after 15 years of graduation who has demonstrated a clear commitment to excellence in his/her career. To be considered for this award, the alumnus/alumna will have significant accomplishments in business or professional life as well as recognition, achievement and leadership that reflect positively on the University's mission.
Kent Hatteberg has really struck a chord in the music community with his career path! A University of Dubuque Graduate in 1977, Kent was a member of the Thirteeners, the University Singers, the Collegiate Singers, and the University Band. After graduation, Kent married Martha
Hope Burton, C'77 and had three daughters, Sarah, Lindsay, and Heidi. Staying in Iowa, Kent was the Vocal Music Instructor at Solon Jr. and Sr. High School from 1977-1980. After graduate studies, Kent moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1983 where he served as Director of Choral Activities at Washington High School until 1989. In 1991 Kent moved to Huntsville, Texas, where he taught at Sam Houston State University until 1996. He has served as Director for Choral Activities for the University of Louisville in Kentucky since 1996.
Along his career path, he continued to work on his education. Kent received his Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa in 1982, served as a Fulbright Scholar in Berlin, Germany during 1990-1991, and received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa in 1995. As a Fulbright Scholar, he studied the early works of Felix Mendelssohn. He conducted the World Premiere of Felix Mendelssohn's Gloria in November of 1997!
Under Kent's direction, his choirs have been selected to perform at several regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). The University of Louisville Collegiate Chorale had the opportunity to sing at the Inauguration of George W. Bush in Washington DC during January of 2001. His Cardinal Singers (University of Louisville) won three gold medals at the Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany, including 1st place in Chamber Choir and 1st place in Spiritual/Gospel in July 2004. The Cardinal Singers were chosen to perform at the 7th World Choral Symposium in Kyoto, Japan in 2005. Kent is currently working with the Cardinal Singers as they prepare for to participate in the 1st Grand Prix of Choral Music, an invitation by the Musica Mundi, in South Korea during July 2009!
During his career Kent has been active as a guest conductor and adjudicator nationally and abroad. He conducts the Kentucky Ambassadors of Music every two years in European Tours. He was guest conductor of the Iowa All-State Choir in 2004.
2008 Service to Community Award
Awarded to an alumnus/alumna of the University of Dubuque who has demonstrated a clear commitment to serving the community through notable volunteerism, an outstanding act of selflessness, or a demonstrated pattern of service to humanity.
One of the most important gifts one can pass on to another individual is knowledge. Pauline (Tobiason) Antons, C'48 was a math educator for 36 years, serving at Elkader, Onslow, and Midland Community Schools. As a student at UD, Pauline was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, and involved in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, band, the yearbook, the sorority Lambda Tau Delta. She served as YWCA treasurer and president. Upon graduation Pauline was Salutatorian of her class, received the outstanding Christian Leadership Award, and was awarded Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Originally from Iowa, Pauline grew up on a farm near Monticello, Iowa. After graduation, Pauline married Richard Antons and had two children, Karen and Sharon. Pauline's granddaughter, Christine, is currently a three generation legacy student at UD!
When she thinks of career highlights, she often thinks of her many students who are now math educators or have entered into a math related field. She is proud to have received three National Science Foundation Scholarships and four Upsilon State Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Scholarships since graduation. Her most prestigious award was the 1988 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching!
An active life member of Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in rural Monticello and a member of many conservation organizations, Pauline remains dedicated to the Lord and the Earth with which we are blessed. In 1988, Pauline was chosen as the Jones County Conservation Teacher of the Year and she received this award again in 1993. She also received the 1997 Outstanding Regional Soil and Water Commissioner A ward. She still volunteers for the Grant Wood Trail, served as YMCA Treasurer and President, Camp Courageous of Iowa, and many, many other organizations!
2008 Alumnus of Distinction Award
Awarded to alumnus/alumna of the University of Dubuque - College or Seminary - who have distinguished themselves in service to the whole church and/or world.
William "Bill" Svrluga, C'66 has truly set out to make our world a better place and dreams of a world where poverty does not exist and all people have a full opportunity to achieve their dreams. Bill has never been one to let life pass him by and be indifferent to the communities' issues. As a student, Bill was an active Thirteener who served on the fraternity council, in addition to serving on student government, including serving as President of the Class of 1966.
Bill continues to stay active with UD by serving on the Board of Trustees, the Heritage Society, and with the development of UD's Diamond Program. Serving his community has always been a priority for Bill. He has served as the Vice Chair of the Minneapolis Urban League, was Co-Founder and Chair of the Greater Minneapolis Food Bank, Co-Chair of the Minneapolis Initiative Against Racism and one of the Founders and Board Chairs of two programs (Twin Cities RISE! and Jeremiah Program) focused on economically poor men and women in developing the skills needed to obtain high skill jobs and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children.
He was an exchange student to all-black Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, and participated with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Selma to Montgomery March in 1964. In addition, he played football for four years and served as co-captain with Dozier Jones his senior year. When not involved in these extra-curricular activities he completed a double major in physics and math, and served as a resident assistant for one year and head resident of Severance Hall for two years.
Bill was honored by friends and colleagues in January 2008 in Minneapolis for his contributions to the success of many non-profit organizations over the last 25 years and in September he was installed into the Minnesota State Volunteer Hall of Fame by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. Bill lives with his wife Lucy Gerold in Minneapolis and has two grown sons, Barry of Washington, DC and Bradley of Williamstown, Massachusetts.
2008 Herbert E. Manning, Jr. Distinctive Service Award
The Herbert E. Manning, Jr. Distinctive Service Awards recognize UDTS alumni/alumnae who demonstrate exceptional contributions in Christian ministry. Recipients model servant leadership, courageous convictions, a spirit of witness, and a faithful obedience as they contribute significantly to the Church universal, the Seminary, and all of God's people.
Originally born in Beirut, Lebanon, Saleem Ghubril's family migrated to the United States after civil war ripped his homeland apart. Saleem married his wife Patti in 1981 and they have two children, Christina and Nathan. After earning a B.A. from the University of Iowa, Saleem studied at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 1991.
A man with great vision and compassion, Saleem has worked with youth for over a quarter of a century! Since 1985 Saleem has worked with The Pittsburgh Project, where he served as Executive Director until September 2008. The Pittsburgh Project helps children and youth who live on Pittsburgh's urban North side, youth, adults, and families who participate in Service Camps and Retreats, and vulnerable homeowners who live in Pittsburgh and neighboring urban boroughs. He now serves as Executive Director of an ambitious new initiative called the Pittsburgh Promise, which provides college scholarships to graduates of Pittsburgh Public Schools, and is attempting to bring reform to urban public education in Pittsburgh as well as development to its neighborhoods.
Saleem is an ordained Presbyterian minister whose life and work are deeply shaped by his faith. He is dedicated and committed to bringing God's love to the poor, the forgotten, and the alienated. Saleem also serves on the following community boards: A+ Schools: Pittsburgh's Community Alliance for Public Education, Forbes Funds, Looking Glass Institute, serving as board treasurer for The Buhl Foundation and the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development. Saleem also serves as co-pastor at Mosaic Community Church. In his spare time, when he gets it, he enjoys watching movies, hanging out in bookstores and coffee shops, playing the guitar and traveling!
The University of Dubuque is a private, coeducational, professional university with a focus in the liberal arts. Our commitment to encouraging students to explore their fullest potential is part of a rich Christian heritage that dates back to the University's founding in 1852.
